From dipax@tiscalinet.it Mon Dec 2 22:20:26 2002 From: dipax@tiscalinet.it (Ruggiero Dipace) Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2002 23:20:26 +0100 Subject: [Edu-sig] (no subject) Message-ID: <200212022320.26090.dipax@tiscalinet.it> From pobrien@orbtech.com Fri Dec 13 14:50:18 2002 From: pobrien@orbtech.com (Patrick K. O'Brien) Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2002 08:50:18 -0600 Subject: [Edu-sig] Introspection article Message-ID: <200212130850.18901.pobrien@orbtech.com> IBM just published another article of mine - everything you ever wanted to know about introspecting Python (well, almost everything): LINUX ZONE | Python introspection ::: Guide to Python introspection ::: Some languages keep information to themselves, but if you need to know something from a Python object, just ask. From an explanation of modules to a detailed look at dir(), programmer Patrick O'Brien takes you on an interactive tour of Python's introspection features -- using, of course, Python's introspection features. http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-pyint.html -- Patrick K. O'Brien Orbtech http://www.orbtech.com/web/pobrien ----------------------------------------------- "Your source for Python programming expertise." ----------------------------------------------- From chester_b@ithryn.net Mon Dec 16 02:53:09 2002 From: chester_b@ithryn.net (chester_b) Date: Sun, 15 Dec 2002 21:53:09 -0500 Subject: [Edu-sig] Teaching python to non-CS students Message-ID: <200212152153.09593.chester_b@ithryn.net> Hi All, I'm currently working on a project to create a programming class for non-computer science students. The class is meant a college level intro class (so it is not meant to be hard, just an introduction). I want to use python. The basis of the class will be major-based projects which are practical. If a biology student is taking the class they can opt to do a project in the area of biology (hopefully, this will stimulate interest in the student). Questions: 1) Has anyone tried to take a similar approach? 2) i don't know bio or chemistry. Have people tried to teach biology or chemistry (or any other discipline) students python? What did you do for projects? (l looked at biopython, which seems like a great tool kit, but i couldn't find example projects, i could have over looked them though). Thanks, -b From dyoo@hkn.eecs.berkeley.edu Mon Dec 16 06:51:41 2002 From: dyoo@hkn.eecs.berkeley.edu (Danny Yoo) Date: Sun, 15 Dec 2002 22:51:41 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Edu-sig] Teaching python to non-CS students In-Reply-To: <200212152153.09593.chester_b@ithryn.net> Message-ID: On Sun, 15 Dec 2002, chester_b wrote: > I'm currently working on a project to create a programming class for > non-computer science students. The class is meant a college level intro > class (so it is not meant to be hard, just an introduction). I want to > use python. Hi Chester, > Questions: > 1) Has anyone tried to take a similar approach? Hmmm... you might find the book "Simply Scheme", by Matthew Wright and Brian Harvey useful: http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~bh/simply-toc.html It's not Python, but it still might be very helpful as inspiration: you may be able to pull some really good examples from it and use them in your Python course. The book is tailored toward people who are interested in programming, but don't have a CS background. Its focus is less on math and numbers and more towards computing with sentences and words, and this may appeal to non-CS students. Forgive me for my enthusiasm; my background biases me somewhat about this. *grin* > 2) i don't know bio or chemistry. Have people tried to teach biology or > chemistry (or any other discipline) students python? What did you do for > projects? (l looked at biopython, which seems like a great tool kit, but > i couldn't find example projects, i could have over looked them though). The Newcomers page on Python.org, http://python.org/doc/Newbies.html is a good resource that you can pool for material, and it lists a few tutorials for the beginning Bioinformatician or Physicist: http://www.pasteur.fr/recherche/unites/sis/formation/python/ http://users.ox.ac.uk/~sann1276/python/handbook/ The first has more substantial examples with Biopython. I've also seen that Python's starting to get used with linguistics, especially Natural Language Processing: http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~cis530/ http://www.cs.brandeis.edu/~cs114/ Out of curiosity, what kind of students are you expecting in your class? What's the length of the course? Good luck to you! From steve@nowfindme.com Mon Dec 16 22:59:17 2002 From: steve@nowfindme.com (Steve Edwards) Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 06:59:17 +0800 Subject: [Edu-sig] flight robotics In-Reply-To: <20021216170004.27718.27914.Mailman@mail.python.org> Message-ID: One of my good friends has asked me about curriculum materials for YEAR 1= 0 Flight Robotics. A science teaching colleague will be teaching Flight Robotics to Year 10 Aeronautics students for the first time during Semest= er 1, next year (2003). Could anyone who has any leads on this please advise home by email? mmcgarry@morleyhs.wa.edu.au and copy to me or the list as appropriate? (He is not on the list.) Many thanks. Have a great day. Best regards, Steve Edwards =D4=BF=D4=AC steve@nowfindme.com -steve@totalqualitytraining.com www.nowfindme.com - www.totalqualitytraining.com There is a wonderful, mystical law of nature that the three things we cra= ve most in life--happiness, freedom, and peace of mind--are always attained = by giving them to someone else. Author unknown From chester_b@ithryn.net Thu Dec 26 18:54:57 2002 From: chester_b@ithryn.net (chester_b) Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 13:54:57 -0500 Subject: [Edu-sig] Teaching python to non-CS students In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <200212261354.57983.chester_b@ithryn.net> On Monday 16 December 2002 01:51 am, Danny Yoo wrote: > On Sun, 15 Dec 2002, chester_b wrote: > > I'm currently working on a project to create a programming class for > > non-computer science students. The class is meant a college level intro > > class (so it is not meant to be hard, just an introduction). I want to > > use python. > > Hi Chester, Hi, thanks for replying ... sorry it took me a week to get back to you. I've been out-of-town for a while. > > Questions: > > 1) Has anyone tried to take a similar approach? > > Hmmm... you might find the book "Simply Scheme", by Matthew Wright and > Brian Harvey useful: > > http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~bh/simply-toc.html I'll look into picking up a copy. > The book is tailored toward people who are interested in > programming, but don't have a CS background. This is exactly what I'm looking to do. > Its focus is less on math > and numbers and more towards computing with sentences and words, and this > may appeal to non-CS students. Intersting approach. > Forgive me for my enthusiasm; my background biases me somewhat about this. > *grin* Glad to hear it. Now i know I'm not alone. > > 2) i don't know bio or chemistry. Have people tried to teach biology or > > chemistry (or any other discipline) students python? What did you do for > > projects? (l looked at biopython, which seems like a great tool kit, but > > i couldn't find example projects, i could have over looked them though). > > The Newcomers page on Python.org, > > http://python.org/doc/Newbies.html > > is a good resource that you can pool for material, and it lists a few > tutorials for the beginning Bioinformatician or Physicist: > > http://www.pasteur.fr/recherche/unites/sis/formation/python/ > http://users.ox.ac.uk/~sann1276/python/handbook/ > > The first has more substantial examples with Biopython. Excellent. Do you happen to know where bioinformatics fits into a biology curriculum? It is something that a first year student would learn, or is a more advanced topic? > I've also seen that Python's starting to get used with linguistics, > especially Natural Language Processing: > > http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~cis530/ > http://www.cs.brandeis.edu/~cs114/\ This is very cool. I actually contract for a company which does voice recognition. > Out of curiosity, what kind of students are you expecting in your class? > What's the length of the course? Students: I expect to get students which are in their first or second year in college (primarily first year). Their background should consist of basic knowledge in their major of interest. We plan to use their interest in their major to get them interested in learning how to program practical applications in their field, to make their life easier. Course Length: The university which this will be taught has 7-week terms. It's kind of strange. There are 2 terms per semester. The class will meet 4 or 5 days a week. Oh, the university is WPI (http://www.wpi.edu), in case your interested. > Good luck to you! Thanks! -b From letondal@pasteur.fr Sun Dec 29 19:56:12 2002 From: letondal@pasteur.fr (Catherine Letondal) Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 20:56:12 +0100 Subject: [Edu-sig] Teaching python to non-CS students In-Reply-To: Your message of "Thu, 26 Dec 2002 13:54:57 EST." <200212261354.57983.chester_b@ithryn.net> Message-ID: <200212291956.gBTJuCd1346138@electre.pasteur.fr> chester_b wrote: > > is a good resource that you can pool for material, and it lists a few > > tutorials for the beginning Bioinformatician or Physicist: > > > > http://www.pasteur.fr/recherche/unites/sis/formation/python/ > > http://users.ox.ac.uk/~sann1276/python/handbook/ > > > > The first has more substantial examples with Biopython. > Excellent. Do you happen to know where bioinformatics fits into a biology > curriculum? It is something that a first year student would learn, or is a > more advanced topic? It is a more advanced topic. As far as I know, biology students start learning bioinformatics (which, by far, not always programming, but also using and understanding analysis software) when they become graduate or maybe in the 3rd or 4th year of the University (sorry, I'm not familiar with US university cursus). -- Catherine Letondal -- Pasteur Institute Computing Center From steve@nowtellme.com Tue Dec 31 03:51:11 2002 From: steve@nowtellme.com (Steve Edwards) Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 11:51:11 +0800 Subject: [Edu-sig] HNY In-Reply-To: <20021227170004.4205.36096.Mailman@mail.python.org> Message-ID: Seasons greetings and a Happy New Year to all my Pythonesque friends. :-= ) Have a great 2003. Best regards, Steve Edwards =D4=BF=D4=AC steve@nowfindme.com -steve@totalqualitytraining.com www.nowfindme.com - www.totalqualitytraining.com There is a wonderful, mystical law of nature that the three things we cra= ve most in life--happiness, freedom, and peace of mind--are always attained = by giving them to someone else. Author unknown